'' Selections from Welcome Stranger '' is an album of

phonograph record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts nea ...

s by

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

of songs featured in his film ''

Welcome Stranger The Welcome Stranger is the biggest alluvial gold nugget that has ever been found, which had a calculated refined weight of .Potter, Terry F. (1999) ''The Welcome Stranger: a definitive account of the worlds largest alluvial gold nugget''. I ...

''. All of the songs were written by

Jimmy Van Heusen James Van Heusen (born Edward Chester Babcock; January 26, 1913 – February 6, 1990) was an American composer. He wrote songs for films, television and theater, and won an Emmy and four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Life and care ...

(music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics).

Reception

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine said Crosby "emphasises the hit quality of the score's ballad song, "As Long As I'm Dreaming". Other songs have only production value, Crosby singing it in easy and rhythmic style for "Smile Right Back at the Sun" and "My Heart Is a Hobo". And with the Calico Kids on the chant, Crosby is also the caller for the country style square dance ditty." ''

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' was positive: :Better sides than Bing has made in a long while. Sounds if he actually felt like singing. In 'Style' it's mostly his engaging half-singing manner that sneaks him through the by now apparent faults in his upper tones - and it's a square dance too.

Track listing

These songs were featured on a 2-disc, 78 rpm album set, Decca Album No. A-531.

References

{{Authority control Bing Crosby albums 1947 albums Decca Records albums